A sea of islands
Only figuratively, today, at least. I’ve been thinking about the different functions of kitchen islands. Of course they nearly always provide some extra workspace, usually storage, and perhaps some seating too. But architecturally speaking, they play some quite different roles in different kitchens.
There’s island as barrier, where the island is really standing in for one of the walls of the kitchen. In today’s great rooms and open spaces, this is sometimes the most important function of all:
Island as partition
Even if it does have space for seating, a long island parallel with the main cooking wall acts as a barrier. Walking around this one to get to the range would be quite a hike (via Atticmag):
Ina Garten's kitchen, via Atticmag
A smaller island, especially in the center of a U shaped configuration, acts less like a barrier and more like an invitation – it invites the sharing of cooking tasks, and makes movement in and out of the kitchen for serving and clearing easy. In many ways the island is working like a kitchen table – even if there is no seating at it, and even if there is a table nearby too:
A kitchen for Glenn Close - via atticmag
A third variety of island is “island as stage” – you’ve seen this on every cooking show. Just think of the House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year, for an example. Tasks, usually cooking, take place on one side, while the audience, guests, whoever, are kept firmly on the other.
House Beautiful's 2010 Kitchen of the Year
Of course, a stage is a kind of barrier too – the difference now is that the cook/performer faces the audience. We are invited to look, but not to touch or pitch in.
Sometimes the stage can be set for theater in the round too – just look at this Pedini kitchen:
Ready for the show - a kitchen by Pedini
That one would definitely be best for a one-man (or woman) show, wouldn’t it?
